2023 NASDA Annual Meeting

Nat'L Assoc/State Departs/Agriculture, Arlington VA

Investigators

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The objective of NASDA’s 2023 Annual Meeting is to provide information on current and emerging feed and food safety issues impacting agriculture, and to build consensus among the states on regulatory approaches to these issues. The plenary speakers will give state regulators an opportunity to hear a national perspective on feed and food safety, something to which they may not be exposed in their respective states. NASDA has two membership meetings a year. One is the annual meeting in the state of the current president; the other is the Winter Policy Conference held in the Washington, DC area. The focus of the meetings is legislative and regulatory issues of interest to the members. These two occasions and one additional meeting, held regionally, are the opportunities for NASDA members to converse on issues, make contacts with each other and other leaders, set priorities and goals for the coming year and meet face-to-face with NASDA staff and FDA officials. At recent meetings, NASDA members have stressed the fact that there must be continuous efforts made on the part of FDA and NASDA members to collaborate and cooperate in discussions on emerging FDA topics that directly and indirectly affect agriculture. The states and FDA share similar authorities, missions and responsibilities, and the partners have been working to improve communications. The passage of the Food Safety and Modernization Act has created a plethora of issues to be discussed and resolved as we seek to establish an integrated federal-state food and feed safety system. The need for conversation about not only the policies entailed in implementation of FSMA and the rules but also the importance of developing strategies that work for FDA and the state partners cannot be overstated. The 2023 Annual Meeting presents the opportunity for NASDA members, NASDA staff, and key FDA leaders to interact with each other, focusing on feed and food safety and regulatory issues, and promoting partnerships to ensure program success. The Annual Meeting is three days long, and the agenda includes committee meetings, plenary sessions, focus sessions, and speakers. NASDA has a Food Safety and Nutrition Committee that meets during this time to discuss topics focusing on FDA program areas in which state programs interact. In addition, NASDA generally has a private meeting between NASDA food safety leadership and the key FDA leaders in attendance. NASDA Members and key FDA leadership also find time during the meeting for mini- conferences on issues of interest and concern. The conference will be held in Cheyenne, WY. The number of participants is anticipated to be approximately 400 people in person and an additional 100 watching the virtual live stream. Meeting attendees consist of NASDA members and their staff, NASDA staff, representatives of state and federal regulatory agencies charged with feed and food safety responsibilities, the regulated industries, and university and research institution professionals.